Knockdown buggy-top.



' No 780,141. PATBNTED JAN. 17, 1905. 0. M. THOMAS.

KNOCKDOWN BUGGY TOP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2,1903.

060(2/M/7J770 a3 Patented January 17, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR MI. THOMAS, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA.

KNOCKDOWN BUGGY-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,141, dated January 17, 1905.

Application filed November 2, 1903. Serial Iflo. 179,619.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR M. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muncie, in the county of Delaware and State of Incliana, have invented a new and useful Knockdown Buggy-Top, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the tops of buggies, carriages, and similar vehicles which may be folded or collapsed when not in use, and has for its object to produce a device of this class which may be knocked down or divided for transportation.

The invention consists in dividing the vehicle-top at the juncture of the straight side portion and the curved top portion of the bows and detachably connecting the divided portions.

Other novel features of the invention will appear in the annexed description and be specified in the claim following.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a buggy-top with the improvement applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of the improved device with the parts disconnected; and Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts connected and shown partly in section, illustrating the details of the construction.

In shipping foldable buggy or carriage tops it is necessary to either crate them in their open position, which requires large and bulky crates, or to collapse the tops and ship them crated or boxed in that condition; but both of these methods are objectionable, the first being bulky and expensive and the other causing creases in the leather of the. tops which detract from the appearance and when kept in folded condition for a long time are apt to cause the material to crack along the creases.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the foldable curved tops may be separated from the straight sides and shipped separately or a number packed together without collapsing or folding in relatively small crates or boxes, thereby not only saving in freight and shipping charges, but in storage room, as well as preserving the tops in a smooth condition. By this means a relatively large number of tops may be shipped in the same size crate or box heretofore required to contain one top when shipped without being collapsed.

In the general construction of vehicle-tops of this class the framework consists of curved Wooden bows 10, extending over the top of the vehicle, and straight metal tubular side bars 11, converging to one pivotal point 12, the curved portion being covered with the flexible leather top 13 and provided at suitable points with button-knobs 14, which support the side curtains, the latter not shown, as they form no part of the present invention.

In this invention one of the button-knobs is attached to each of the straight side bars 11 near its upper end, as shown, and these particular knobs are utilized to couple the divided. bows, as hereinafter shown.

In the improved device the tubular sections or side bars 11 of the bows are detachably connected with curved wooden portions, and at their junctures a short tubular section or sleeve 15 is utilized as a coupling means. The sleeve 15 is rigidly attached to the wooden portion 10 of the bow and adapted to enter the free or upper ends of the members 11, with the screw ends of the button-knobs 14: inserted throifgh suitable apertures in the members 11 to 15 and into the wooden core formed by the member 10 within the sleeve. By this simple means when the vehicle-top is to be shipped the button-knobs which couple the parts are unscrewed, the curved leathercovered portions of the bows may be detached from the straight side sections, and the latter collapsed and either stowed within the leathercovered top or packed separately and the top packed or crated without collapsing it. With this simple arrangement the crated and knocked-down tops may be stored for an indefinite time without damage, whereas when shipped collapsed they must necessarily be released and opened as soon as possible to prevent the wrinkles becoming permanent in the fabric. V

When the carriage or buggy is to be set up, it requires a very small amount of labor to insert the sleeve member 15 into the tubular side members 11 and then screw in the button-knob member 14 to complete the coupling.

The device is very simple in construction, easily adapted to all the various styles and sizes of foldable carriage and buggy tops, and Will not add materially to the expense nor detract from the appearance, as none of the added parts appear upon the surface, the appearance of all the parts remaining the same.

The sleeve members 15 may be of any size or strength required.

Having thus described the invention, What 1 claim is In a buggy-top, the combination With a plurality of tapering tubular side bars, of solid top bows detachably secured thereto, bearingsleeves rigidly secured to the tapering ends of the top bows and held Within the tubular side bars by frictional engagement With the inner Walls thereof, there being alined openings formed in one of the side Walls of said tubular side bars and bearing-sleeves, and knobs or buttons passing through said alined openings and having their threaded shanks engaging the ends of the wooden top bows and the inner Walls of the bearing-sleeves for securing the several parts together.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

OSCAR M. THOMAS. Witnesses:

B. BEHYMER, A. J. SMITH. 

